Toboggan steering mechanism



l.. c. BERG 2,677,551

May 4, 1954 ToBoGGAN STEERING MECHANISM 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Filed, June 5, 1951 iva/afd INVENTOR` FILEJE- AT TORNE.Y

24- A LAWRENCE. l C BBRG May 4, 1954 L. c. RG 2,577,551

TOBOGGAN STEERING MECHANISM Filed June 5, 1951. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAWRENC BY A g lNvEN-ron E. @BERG TT OR NEP!" Patented May 4, 1954 UN ITEDJ- S TATES A'l? E NT GFF I'C TOBOGGAN STEERING. MECHANISM.

LaWrenceC. Berg, San Leandro,y Cali'i' Application June 5; 1951, Serial No.230g0I2-f (Cl.A 280--21) 4l Claims; l'`

rlfhisinventionrelates to. steering, apparatus for. sliding devices in. thenature. ot a toboggan, and isparticularly directed, toward .novel steering meansffor. a-.lrnock.down tnpeof; toboggan..v

In myprior Ratent.No. 2,l6.4,016,. issued March 8,194.9, L disclosed a. sectionalized. toboggan in which the several. sectionswere designed to. collectively nt into. the leading or headboardsection for. ready` packing, or storage., The, present.V in.- ventionconstitutes .animprovernentover my prior patent that means are provided. in. combinationV with. a. sectionalized toboggan, for. steering the; toboggan- While coasting; down.- a snow. covered` slope so,4 as.. toeliminate the need. ior, the ridenwho may, be seriously incapacitated, ofi havingto. dig hisf-eetintoA the snow on.. one or the otherrsideot the toboggan, or requiring the resn cue. partyto. forcibly urge the4 toboggan in` a desired direction.

Another. objecten feature of.. the. invention isto provide a sectionalized toboggan in which a skiborne person guiding, the.. same may readily and conveniently control the course of' the. toboggan vvhileU maintaining, his normalv skiing position.

A` further object ofthis-nvention isto provide atoboggan. of, thetype described. which. may be selectively, steered. from: positionsv adjacent the head or. rear end. thereonor., which. may. be. al'- ternately. steered from. such. positions. without re quiring any. changes` or modications of parts.

A,.sti1l..f,urther. object of. my invention isto provide. a.toboggan. as above. desoribedin. which stabilizing means. are7 provided for preventingl yawing of theftoboggan in desoendingaslope,andin which suclrmeansmav/bc. selectively placedinto and. out of snow-engaging position.

Yetanother object.y of theinvention is to provide.a.toboggan of' thefcharacter described which isf-provided with suitable. hand grips for engagement the. persons guiding. the toboggan, and

which. are arranged immediately adjacentv the manual steering control means whereby the persons.. may at all" timesr even when steering the toboggan, possess a firm grip on thev toboggan.;

the hand' grips further providing means whereby 4.

assembled by a; person Wearingheavy gloves. and possessing. noA speciahmechanicala training onslsill.

The invention possesses.w other objects. and=tea tures of advantage, some of which With'the. foregoing., Will be settorthdntherfollowing descriptionoi the preferredl form of Vtheinvention.which is illustrated.: in the1 drawingsfaccompanging and forming part. of the. specification.. Iltis; to-beiunn derstood, however, thatvariatinnsinthe show.- ing made by the` said`V drawings and; description may. be adopted, within-.the scope. of the: invention as set forth intheY claims.

Referring tofthe drawings:

Figure 1.v is a7 perspective view ot. the toboggan of my invention..

Figure 2 is a,side.sectional.vievv. of the steering, rudder taken' cn. thez line 2s2r of. Figure 1.

Figure` 3 is a. cross-sectional viewf taken inthe plane indicatedby theline-aof: Figure. 2.A

Figure 4. is` a perspective View4 ot the. trailing edge of one ot the sectionsydisclosing thefmale portion of. theV interlock. mechanism.l for thesections.

Fig. 5. isaperspectvefvievvof theleading. edge E on one oi` thef sections showing the'female por.-

tion. of the interloclsmechanism..

Figure: 6 lis: anl enlarged elevationalx view.; partly in section', of. therean handigfr-ips.

Figure 7 is. a. View similar to;I Figure. 6r but: indi.- cating a modiedf for-mi of: rear-hand grip,

Fig-ure Seisav view-similar. to,-Figure ybutfilluse trating az further embodiment of. the. rear. hand grip.

Figure4 9,-

arcrossfsectfional viewj taken` inthe plane indicated--by` the-line 9.-9fot Figure 8h Figure 1-0# is a? cr.oss..seetional view taken` along the line l-lll of Figure 9.

Figurev 111z is a crossfsectional: view taken. along thefl'ine.- Ille-H of. Figure 11 showingithet: stabilizer in inoperative position.

Figure 1-2 is a view' similar. to.I Figure 1-1- but showingthelstabilizer in snow engaging position.

Figure 13Tl is: aseotional'planlview taken. along the line l3-I3 ofi ligure. 12. showing the action of the; retaining spring; and dowela on the. leading edge of thestabilize-r:

The' toboggan. body ispreferably constructed as'illustrated in.L Figure 1:, and includes. a headboard sectiony Pda-.plurality oi'.- generally similar intermediate. sections Il and. i8, and a. rear. or end section. I9, and although flour. sections are illustratedv the toboggan mayvl he: constructed. of less or more sections. depending upon; the overall length.required-and.th'ersizeuof'the toboggan when in its knockeddown condition. As-.willbeunderstood, the several sections are designed to be interconnected so as to form a unitary toboggan structure, and when not in use, to be separated and stacked in a relatively compact bundle for convenient carrying by a single person. In connection with this feature, the intermediate and end sections I1, I8 and I9 may be uniformly and progressively convergently tapered toward the rear of the toboggan, or if desired, each section may be made progressively smaller from front to rear to permit the aforesaid stacking in the headboard section. A recess is provided in the headboard I6 for accomodation of the other sections by constructing the same with a substantially flat bottom portion 2l, whose lower surface 22 forms part of the tread surface of the toboggan, rising in a coextensively upwardly curved portion 23 forming the bow of the toboggan. Side members 24, contoured to conform with the cross-sectional shape of the portions 2I and 23, are secured to the latter to preserve the form and relationship of the portions and to provide in the headboard a recess for the purpose above set forth.

The means for securing the respective sections together to provide a unitary toboggan structure may take a variety of different forms, such as that disclosed in my aforesaid patent. However, for simplicity of construction, ease of assembly, and insurance of a positive joint, I prefer to utilize the connectors shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing. Such connectors include a male member 26 disposed at each side and adjacent the rear edge of all but the end section I9 and complementary female members 21 longitudinally aligned with the members 26 but placed adjacent the leading edge of all but the headboard section I 6. Member 26 comprises a plate 28 secured by screws or the like to the upper surface of its respective section and one or more vertically extending threaded studs 29 secured thereto. When the adjacent section is placed in its overlapped assembled position, the studs 29 register with and are adapted to be received by longitudinally extending slots 3I formed in the said adjacent section and in a plate member 32 secured to the section. The slots 3| are radially enlarged at 33 to permit passage therethrough of knurled nuts 34 threadedly engaged with the studs, and it is believed clear that in assembling the sections, the nuts are first registered with the enlarged portions 33 and by their longitudinally pulling on the adjacent sections, the studs will enter the slots 3|, and by tightening the nuts on the studs, a simple but effective interconnection will be effected, resisting all but deliberate unfastening.

In order to lend longitudinal rigidity to the sections I1, I8 and I9, which comprise substantially rectangular and flat panels of plywood or the like, rails 36 are secured to the opposed side edges of each section, such rails being of any suitable cross-sectional form such as standard half-round molding or the like.

As above stated, it is very important to provide steering mechanism for the toboggan so that the rescue party may safely guide the toboggan, which possibly supports a seriously injured occupant, over the snow covered terrain. In many instances, the one or more persons comprising the rescue party will be on skis and thus the steering control means must be accessible to such persons without requiring any serious departure from a normal skiing position. Furthermore, as it is so essential to permit the toboggan to be knocked down into a compact bundle for carrying the same to the side of the injured party, the conventional types of steering mechanisms could not be readily modified to permit their use on the sectionalized structure disclosed herein. In order to better understand the operation of the steering mechanism of the present invention,

' some explanation of the general nature of this type of rescue work is believed to be warranted. Assuming two ski-borne persons comprise the rescue party, one person would straddle the headboard section and by assuming the familiar bentknee skiing position, could grip the side members 24 of this section through suitable handreceiving apertures 31, while the other person would be disposed adjacent the rear section of the toboggan and the rear grips 38 thereon as will be presently described. It is understood of course that in ascending a slope, the leading person would tow the toboggan by means of rope or the like, and by providing the hand grips 31 and 38 at both the front and rear of the toboggan, the two persons can readily lift the toboggan and its occupant so as to carry the same over extremely rough or snow-covered terrain.

rIhe steering mechanism preferably includes a rudder member 39 comprising a generally rectangular plate-like member having an arcuate portion 4I adjacent its leading edge. Member 39 is disposed adjacent the rear edge of the lower surface of end section I9 and is secured to the latter by means of a shaft 42 extending through an aperture 43 in the section, a suitable bearing 44 being mounted on the upper surface of the section. Shaft 42 terminates in a bifurcated portion 46 arranged to overlie and be secured to the rudder member by a pin or rivet 41. In this manner, as the shaft 42 is rotated, similar movement will be imparted to the rudder. Threadedly engaged in a suitable aperture 48 of the shaft 42 is a pin 49, provided at its distal end with an eye 5I for a purpose to be hereinafter described.v The pin 49 limits axial movement of the shaft when in assembled position, and by withdrawing the pin, the entire rudder assembly may be dismantled for more convenient packing and to permit the rear section I9 to be properly nested in the headboard section.

Means are provided for actuating the pin 49 so as tomove the rudder member and thereby steer the toboggan, and as here shown, such means permit actuation by a person situated at either the front or rear of the toboggan without requiring such persons to remove their hands from the respective hand grips 31 and 38. The front control includes a pair of cords 52 secured at their rear ends to the eye 5I by means of conventional snap fasteners 53, the cords extending around the rear grips 38 and longitudinally along the section rails 36. The cords 52, adjacent their front ends, are preferably connected to short lengths-of flexible metal cables 54, the latter. passing through a guide member 56 secured to each of the side members 24 of the headboard section and terminating at a pair of handles 58 disposed adjacent the hand grips 31. With this construction, it will be apparent that when a person is engaging the hand grips, he may, at the same time, grip the handles 58 and by applying upward pressure on one or the other of the handles, the respective cords 52 will be moved and the rudder turned in a direction corresponding to that which the handle is actuated. By using the cords 52, the same may easily be 5 rolled? updoy detachingf thel fasten'erszi when the tobogganiis beingjdismantledi Normally; whentwo persons are f guidingl the toboggan; the front'lperson willido the-steering, buttw-herea* singl'eiperson.isperfor-ming this task, it ispreerable i'fliat-lieA place himselfiattli'e rear ofiI the toboggan and` steer from thisz position. To* permititliis, I2 provid-ea paii'voff' webb'e'd straps 5b' providedT with snap.l fasteners` engagea-ble i with the' eye 5l' and passing under looped` staples Si or4 similar members to terminate in'. al pairfoi handles fsimilar tohandles. 585 Bil-'pulling on onefofi the rear handles, the-rudd`er will'E correspon'dingly' be moved inal directionv ofi pull", and thus the tobogganmay-'besteeredi'fronr the rear position ini a simple manner; In steeringf the toboggan from thelrearfposition, the steererw-ill engage-therear handgrip 3B, and"y asf'in' the case with they iront steerer; i'heconstruction permits himy` to actuate the' rudo without relinquishing his normal grip on a more* stable part1 offfthe toboggan.

TheV rear hand; grips 38 vare*arranged" toi eict'end substantially' normal" romtherear section i9, and in order tio-permit theentire"structureto behnoched'down so asito formk acompactbundle, these grips must be either removable, or at least foldable to. positions adjacent the upper surface of' the section. InFigure 6` of the drawing, I have illustrated. a simplefmeans foreffeeting detachment of the grips, which merely comprisea LJ-shapedtubular element t3. rEhe endsofI ele ment iis-.aretelesoopically engageable with apair et spaced. posts 54 secured to. the: upper surface of the toboggan section It by means of a plate f3 55 or the like; The posts are provided with .a grooves 61 engageable by' the distal endiil'. cf` a dietent member. iimountedonztne outersurface of element `63, the end 68 passing through a suitable aperture in the element. In this manner,

when element -63 is seated on the studs, the end 53 of the detent will enter the groove 61 of the stud and resist upward displacement of the hand grips, and to remove the latter, it will only be necessary to move the detent out of the groove and lift the elements from their seated position. If desired, and as shown in Figure 7, the grips may be adjustably vertically positioned by providing an auxiliary tubular member 1I having a detent engageable with the stud groove, the detent l2 on the grip selectively engageable with longitudinally spaced grooves I3 on the member 1 I.

In place of the detachable rear hand grips above described, it may be desirable to utilize a folding arrangement whereby each of the grips will be folded inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the toboggan and nest one on top of the other. This may be effected by use ci the structure disclosed in Figures 8-10 of the drawing in which each of the U-shaped tubular elements 'I4 is pivotally secured to a post 'It by means of a pin El passing through the post and also through an extension 'It of the element 14. As will be seen, the pins for each of the grips are disposed in different planes whereby when each grip is placed in its folded or stowed position, the grips will be one on top of the other v as suggested in Figure 9. Detents 19 are provided and engageable with suitable apertures 8l in the members to releasably support the grips in their extended or upright position.

In connection with the steering mechanism, and as a feature of the invention, means are provided, independent of the rudder, for assisting 6 the toboggan inf' maintaining: a. trueacoursewith little-or no sides-sway or yaws Suchr. means in;- ciudefstabilizers'Simountedon the'outerssurfaces of f' the headboardside:membersgand readily mov ableIt from` an operative/or'. snow: engaging. position: disclosed in'- Figuref 12 to. anw inoperative positionedisclosedfinzl'igure 1l. The stabilizers cornpriseaV generallyfrectangular.' metal plateA 81 provided' with" a pair of studs-:havirrga enlarged head'szl 'Ilfieheads` are arranged to entera diametr-ica'lly enlarged?" portionz si? of longitudii'- nally/ extending grooves 92'; providedv in plater 93 securedto the members 242;' andby sliding the plater rearwardly. the heads will overlie the groovestz and prevent outward withdrawal. of tliefplate; To prevent movement' of the plates ina'Y forward directionv whereby the heads. would registerwith1thei enlarged! portionsl', aispring loaded'detent 94havin astud 96 isy securedlto plate- 93 and is positioned'l adj acontY the front" of the stabilizer plate. 8:35 and" normally engages z the leading edge of theistabilizer wheny the; latterl is mountedf on*- the'- plates 93;A Toirelease" the i plate, it. isionly necessary. t'o' depresslthe stud' andi slide the1 plate forwardly. until the headsware aligned withithe groove portions 9 Iy andremoverthef sta.- bilizerr plate from, thev toboggan. Itwillbenoted that the'.` studs 88 are positioned. away 'from' the longitudinal centerline:4 of the plate; whereby by T. rotating thev plate lmdegrees; thezloweredge thereof'v will be selectively placed" below or." above the lowerl surface 22'1 oil.' the toboggan. and? thus either be in or out'` orA snow;v engaging: relation'.

itV is. simplef mattei-sto. either installA ory remcvef thef stabilizers; the latter. may be'. inter:- changed from!` one: position to' the other4 a minimum' amountofi time andlwithouti anyV complicated mechanical:v adjustments.

From the foregoing descriptions it will be seen that I have provided a toboggan with improved steering and stabilizing characteristics which in no way detracts from its ability to be rapidly dismantled for convenient packing. For reasons of clarity of the drawings, no straps or other types of accessories have been illustrated for securing a person to the toboggan or to brake the toboggan as such features form no part of the present invention.

I claim:

l. A toboggan comprising a headboard section, an end section and a plurality of intermediate sections interposed between the headboard and end sections, means cooperative between the respective sections for releasably securing said sections together, said headboard section including a pair of hand grips disposed substantially above the general plane of the toboggan, said end section including a pair of hand grips disposed substantially immediately above the general plane of the toboggan, said latter hand grips comprising U-shaped members disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of the toboggan, a rudder positioned below the lower surface of said rear section comprising a plate-like member disposed generally normal to the plane of said section, means including a vertically extending shaft for releasably mounting said rudder on said end section, a longitudinally extending element releasably secured to said shaft, handles disposed adjacent. each of said front and rear hand grips, flexible members interconnecting each of said handles and said element, and means for guiding sai-d flexible members so as to impart hori- Zontally transverse motion to said element upon upward movement of the handles.

2. A toboggan comprising a headboard section, an end section and an intermediate section interposed between the headboard and end sections, means cooperative between the respective sections for releasably securing said sections together to provide a substantially flat elongated occupant-supporting surface and a correspondingly shaped snow-engaging surface, said head board section including side rails extending along the opposite sides thereof, the side rails having apertures therein for manual engagement of the rails by an operator, a rudder disposed below the plane of said snow-engaging surface and operatively connected for rotation to said end section, shaft means connected to said rudder and extending above the plane of said occupantsupporting surface, cord-like members operatively connected to said shaft and generally traversing said end section, said latter members also extendingr along opposite sides of the sections and terminating adjacent said side rail apertures for engagement by the operator.

3.' A toboggan comprising a headboard section an end section and an intermediate section interposed between the headboard and end sections, means cooperative between the respective sections for releasably securing said sections together to provide a substantially flat elongated occupant-supporting surface and a correspondingly shaped snow-engaging surface, U-shaped members mounted on opposite sides of said end section for manual gripping by an operator, a rudder disposed below the plane of said snowengaging surface and operatively connected for rotation to said end section, shaft means connected to said rudder and extending above the plane of said occupant-supporting surface, flexible members connected to said shaft and ex- 8 tending generally transversely and in opposite directions across said end section, said latter members terminating adjacent said U-shaped members for manual engagement by the operator whereby upward pulling on said flexible members will impart rotary movement to said shaft.

4. Steering apparatus for a toboggan having an upper occupant-supporting surface, comprising a rudder member disposed below the plane of said lower surface adjacent the rear end of the toboggan and arranged to engage the snow on which the toboggan is placed, a shaft secured to said member and extending above said upper surface, manually engageable means adjacent the sides of said toboggan and having portions thereof connected to said shaft for selective movement of said rudder, and stabilizer plates secured to opposite side surfaces of said toboggan adjacent the front end thereof for engagement with the snow, said stabilizer plates comprising substantially rectangular plate-like members, and attachment means for releasably securing said stabilizer plates to said sides, each of said plates being selectively positioned on said side so as to have a portion thereof selectively positioned above and below said lower toboggan surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,187,437 Wanat Jan. 16, 1940 2,241,733 Perry May 13, 1941 2,464,016 Berg Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,416 Norway July 30, 1906 

